San Diego Car Insurance

How much does car insurance cost in San Diego, CA? Check out the average rates that drivers pay below.

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What Is the Average Cost of Car Insurance in San Diego?

When you think of San Diego, California, you may think of white sand beaches, lazy days in the sun, or riding in the truck that crosses the savannah at the Wild Animal Park. This former naval town has become a city that offers just about everything except an extensive transit system. That’s right: if you want to get around in San Diego, you’d better have your own vehicle. Finding the best auto insurance rate in San Diego, CA, is no more confusing than finding it anywhere else. Once you understand the basics of auto insurance and have a company like SmartFinancial standing by to fast-track your insurance search, you’ve little else to do but sit under a palm tree on Mission Bay, sip some lemonade, and decide where to have supper. Here’s more information on how to get the best coverage for your car.

Monthly Average Rates by Country, State, and City

Car insurance rates vary from driver to driver and are based on many factors that include driving history, claims history and where you live. Each city in California has different rates, and below, you can compare average rates with the national average. According to our data, drivers who live in San Diego typically pay around $128.21 per month compared to the national average of $146.47 per month. The best way to get a low rate is by comparison shopping. SmartFinancial can do that for you at no cost while pairing you with a reputable insurance company so you have no surprises if you have an accident.

AreaAverage Monthly Rate
National $146.47
California $146.60
San Diego, California $128.21

San Diego, CA Best Car Insurance Companies

car insurance in San Diego

Certain insurers will offer you better rates than others based on a myriad of factors, so you may get a better deal from one insurer over another for various reasons, and that’s why it’s important to compare. According to our data, Direct Auto generally has the most affordable car insurance in San Diego coming in around $95.26 per month. Other companies to consider if you live in San Diego is Kemper Auto Premier with an average cost of $99.33 per month and Mercury Insurance Company which typically runs around $105.93 per month. Check out the full list below. SmartFinancial rates the following insurers as the best insurance companies for drivers in San Diego.

RankCompanyAverage Monthly RateComparison State Average
1 Direct Auto $95.26-35.02%
2 Kemper Auto Premier $99.33-32.25%
3 Mercury Insurance Company $105.93-27.74%
4 Kemper Personal Insurance $114.20-22.10%
5 Esurance $123.75-15.59%
6 Clearcover $127.04-13.34%
7 USAA $139.53-4.82%
8 SAFECO $139.90-4.57%
9 Unitrin $144.38-1.51%
10 Mercury $149.191.76%

How Much is Car Insurance in San Diego, CA?

how much is auto insurance in San Diego

Rates can vary from city to city. The residents of Anaheim typically pay $147.60 per month while people who live in Bakersfield will pay $135.16 per month on average. See what people pay for car insurance in other cities in California.

California CitiesMonthly Average Rate
Anaheim $147.60
Bakersfield $135.16
Fresno $133.65
Long Beach $152.67
Los Angeles $183.71
Oakland $161.43
Pasadena $160.36
Riverside $144.16
Sacramento $144.13
San Bernardino $143.62
San Diego $128.19
San Francisco $163.92
San Jose $139.46
Santa Barbara $127.16
Stockton $138.17

Cheap Car Insurance in San Diego by Zip Codes

find cheap auto insurance in San Diego

Every zip code rates differently with every insurer. Your zip code determines the crime rate in your area as well as other risks. Below, you can see how average rates range across the state of California. If you live in an area that is rated high in crime, you can make sure to garage your car in a safe place. That ought to save you some money. Covered and gated structures are best. Make sure to tell your insurance agent about the precautions you’re taking.

San Diego, CA ZIP CodeAverage Monthly Rate
91910$162.73
91913$118.33
91945$117.11
91977$83.21
92021$149.35
92026$91.55
92037$130.48
92056$118.81
92058$98.76
92065$120.66
92092$129.55
92093$219.89
92101$134.17
92102$128.11
92103$121.48
92104$121.35
92105$135.09
92106$115.82
92107$116.34
92108$142.67
92109$127.34
92110$123.65
92111$123.52
92112$68.20
92113$128.93
92114$128.02
92115$138.37
92116$112.88
92117$121.70
92118$116.51
92119$117.57
92120$120.38
92121$121.96
92122$137.19
92123$132.56
92124$127.55
92126$119.50
92127$135.28
92128$124.93
92129$127.37
92130$137.28
92131$139.72
92134$173.71
92135$146.57
92136$269.04
92137$106.02
92138$146.66
92139$127.67
92140$189.36
92145$193.51
92147$155.14
92150$73.15
92153$168.16
92154$123.75
92155$395.41
92159$174.05
92160$160.94
92162$164.99
92166$102.13
92168$91.66
92169$110.45
92170$79.48
92173$110.76
92174$252.13
92175$55.04
92182$146.24
92184$48.97
92193$114.31
92196$98.10
92199$225.81
92592$65.55

Car Insurance Rates by Driver's Age Group in San Diego

Generally speaking, you pay more in car insurance the younger you are and the older you are. Teens and young adults often pay around $249.83 per month in San Diego. Compare that to drivers in their 30’s who typically pay around $118.49 per month drivers in their 40s at $112.99 per month. It’s always a good idea to check for discounts that apply at any age. Some discounts include away-at-school discount, safe driver discount, mature driver discount, good student discount as well as multi-policy and bundling discounts.

Age GroupAverage Monthly Rate
16-19$249.83
20s$152.79
30s$118.49
40s$112.99
50s$106.73
60s$108.93
70+$116.12

Cheapest Insurance for Teenage Drivers in San Diego

If you are teen in San Diego you are probably looking for a good deal on car insurance. Since teenage drivers typically pay the highest rates of any other age group, it’s important to compare multiple companies. According to our research, Kemper Auto Premier typically charges around $87.77 per month. This is likely the most affordable option in San Diego. You might also want to consider Mercury Insurance Company and Direct Auto who also offer good affordable policies for teen drivers.

CompanyAverage Monthly Rate
Kemper Auto Premier$87.77
Mercury Insurance Company$143.71
Direct Auto$183.76
SAFECO$213.46
National General$219.77

Cheapest Insurance for 20 Year-olds in San Diego

20 year-olds in San Diego might want to consider Direct Auto who, on average, offers car insurance rates around $74.96 per month. Kemper Personal Insurance , Kemper Auto Premier , Mercury Insurance Company and SAFECO are also in the top 5 cheapest rates available.

CompanyAverage Monthly Rate
Direct Auto$74.96
Kemper Personal Insurance$94.50
Kemper Auto Premier$96.80
Mercury Insurance Company$123.22
SAFECO$152.38

Cheapest Insurance for 30 Year-olds in San Diego

If you are in your 30s in San Diego our research has found that Mercury Insurance Company typically has the most affordable coverage coming in around $84.19 per month, followed by Kemper Auto Premier at $94.35 and Clearcover at $96.50.

CompanyAverage Monthly Rate
Mercury Insurance Company$84.19
Kemper Auto Premier$94.35
Clearcover$96.50
Direct Auto$100.37
Esurance$114.88

Cheapest Insurance for 40 Year-olds in San Diego

On average, Direct Auto offers car insurance for 40 year-olds in San Diego for around $69.10 per month. If you are looking for affordable coverage, you may also want to consider Mercury Insurance Company or Kemper Personal Insurance. The full list of top companies is below.

CompanyAverage Monthly Rate
Direct Auto$69.10
Mercury Insurance Company$84.43
Kemper Personal Insurance$95.00
Esurance$107.44
Kemper Auto Premier$112.85

Cheapest Insurance for 50 Year-olds in San Diego

Oftentimes 50 year-olds enjoy some of the lowest rates of any other age group. In San Diego we found that Clearcover generally offers the most affordable coverage at $63.17 per month.

CompanyAverage Monthly Rate
Clearcover$63.17
Direct Auto$73.09
Mercury Insurance Company$84.56
Esurance$102.09
SAFECO$117.95

Cheapest Insurance for 60 Year-olds in San Diego

If you live in San Diego and you’re in your 60s, our data indicates that Direct Auto usually has the best rates at $49.66 per month. The top 5 list of car insurance companies is below.

CompanyAverage Monthly Rate
Direct Auto$49.66
Kemper Personal Insurance$93.00
Mercury Insurance Company$95.13
Kemper Auto Premier$98.77
Esurance$102.86

Driver's Coverage Auto Insurance Rates in San Diego, CA

driver's coverage

Typically, drivers who currently have car insurance coverage will receive a cheaper monthly quote than drivers who do not. Since car insurance is a requirement in all 50 states, companies may question why you don't currently have coverage. Because of this, they may see you as a higher risk driver. In San Diego, the average monthly rate for a driver who is currently insured is $127.08 while drivers who are not currently covered will pay around $129.36.

CoverageAverage Monthly Rate
Not Currently Insured $129.36
Currently Insured $127.08

Compare Recent Car Insurance Quotes in San Diego

auto insurance quotes in San Diego city

Your vehicle plays a big part in how you rate for car insurance. The more your car is worth, the higher your car insurance rate. To lower your monthly premiums, you can set a higher deductible, but you’ll need to pay that deductible if you have an accident. Generally speaking, the newer a car is, the more it’s worth, and you may pay more in premiums, but the latest safety features will earn you a discount. The overall safety ratings of a car are also considered when determining your rate. In San Diego a driver of a 2010 Toyota Tacoma can expect to pay around $97.82 per month while someone that owns a 2017 Ford Focus may pay around $88.81 per month. Check out the list of recent quotes in San Diego below.

VehicleAverage Monthly Rate
2010 Toyota Tacoma$97.82
2017 Ford Focus$88.81
2021 Nissan Rogue Sport$100.35
2016 Ford Fusion$67.32
2022 Kia K5$117.83
2020 Hyundai Elantra$64.80
2020 Toyota Corolla$40.61
2023 Chevrolet BOLT EV$148.27
2011 Mazda 3$169.82
2004 Nissan Armada$99.71

FAQ's for Drivers in San Diego, CA

driver’s frequently asked question in San Diego

San Diego Auto Insurance Requirements

In San Diego, you are required to have auto liability insurance coverage.

What Is the Minimum Amount of Liability Coverage Requirement in San Diego?

  • $10,000 for property damage for a single accident.
  • $25,000 for bodily injury and $50,000 for death for a person involved in an accident.
  • $50,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for death for two or more people in an accident.

What Is the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Limit in San Diego?

In California and every other state, the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) level limit is 0.08%. If you have a BAC of 0.08% you are legally considered drunk or intoxicated. A high BAC could result in a DUI or a DWI. If you have a DUI on your record and are seeking lower rates, let SmartFinancial find you the right insurer.

Can I Register My Car Without Insurance in San Diego?

Your liability insurance coverage must be in effect while the registration on the car is valid, even if you do not use the car. Your insurance must be issued by a company authorized by the CAA State Department of Financial Services and certified by CA State DMV. Your insurance must also be issued in the name of the vehicle registrant and remain in that registrant’s name at all times.

Check Out Other Rates in San Diego, CA Nearby Cities:

Chula Vista, CA

El Cajon, CA

La Mesa, CA

National City, CA

Santee, CA

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Commute Time in San Diego, CA

24 Miles
map

Commute Time in United States

26.4 Miles
people

Number of Nearest Insurance Agents in San Diego, CA

136

Methodology
The statistics listed on this page are from our own in house reporting. We track and record quotes that carriers have provided based on various criteria. The rates and averages shown on this page should only be used as an estimate.

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